Potentiometric sensor for phenylephrine based on phenylephrine-tetraphenylborate lipophilic salt

Phenylephrine (PE) ion-selective electrode based on incorporation of phenylephrine-tetraphenylborate lipophilic salt in plasticized PVC matrices is constructed. The electrode shows near Nernstian response over the concentration range 1.5 × 10^–4-10^–1 M in solutions of pH 2.9–8.0 at 25°C. The electrode resists the effect of heat in the temperature range 25–55°C exhibiting an isothermal temperature coefficient of 0.0007 V/°C. The selectivity of the electrode for PE towards large number of inorganic cations, sugars and amino acids is investigated. Determination of PE in an eye-drops pharmaceutical preparation is carried out using the proposed electrode as potentiometric sensor.